Week in Review

Oct. 5, 2012Here is the latest edition of Week In Review - a series of weekly messages from the Mayor and City Council to help Richardson residents and businesses keep up to date on events at City Hall. A list of links for stories in this edition is available at the bottom of the page.

Fall Cottonwood Art Festival This Weekend Features Work by Nation’s Top Artists
More than 240 artists from around the country will be in Richardson this weekend for the Fall 2012 Cottonwood Art Festival.

Now in its 43rd year, the biannual event is rated as one of the top art festivals in the U.S. and generates more than $2 million in art sales each year. Exhibits will include museum-quality work in 16 categories including mixed media, sculpture, oil, watercolor, glass and photography.

The festival also includes children’s arts and crafts at the ArtStop, as well as food and live music. Headlining this year’s musical entertainment will be A Hard Night’s Day, an award-winning Beatles cover band.

Parking and admission are free. The festival will take place 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (with music in the Lakeside Courtyard until 8 p.m.) Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday at Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Belt Line Rd., just east of Coit Road.

2010 Bond Program Implementation Continues on Schedule
Less than 2 ½ years after voters approved the 2010 Bond Program, approximately 87 percent of projects are complete, under construction, in bidding or are under design. The City Council reviewed the status of the Bond Program at its work session Monday.

The remaining $8 million of projects are scheduled to start design within the next 10 months.

Major projects completed to date include Fire Station 4, Terrace Drive and Tyler Street reconstruction, sidewalk repairs in six areas and traffic signal upgrades at four intersections.

Projects currently under construction include Heights Recreation Center and Family Aquatics Center, the Richardson Gymnastics Center, the new Fire Training Center and Emergency Operations Center, as well as Galatyn Parkway extension and numerous streets and alleys. Several more projects will begin construction this fall.

Main Street/Central Expressway Study Continues with Stakeholder Workshops, Interviews
As work on the Main Street/Central Expressway Enhancement/Redevelopment Study approaches the final public input opportunity for the first phase of the project, the City Council on Monday was briefed on stakeholder involvement during the process so far.

Public involvement in the study most recently included a community workshop, as well as a focus group workshop. During those sessions, residents, business owners, property owners and other stakeholders shared their ideas and opinions about a variety of issues related to the corridor. About 70 Richardson residents and stakeholders participated in the community workshop.

Other input for the study has come from individual and group interviews by the study team, as well as an online survey and questionnaire. The final community meeting on this phase of the project will be Nov. 8. The recommendation and an implementation strategy to guide redevelopment along Main Street and the Central Expressway Corridor, two areas identified for upgrades in the 2009 Richardson Comprehensive Plan, will be presented to the City Council in December.
Click the link below to watch Monday’s City Council presentation: http://bit.ly/OFcvi7

Click the link below for more information about the Main Street/Central Expressway study, including a link to the study Facebook page: http://bit.ly/NZwEL0

Exits from US 75 to Westbound I-635 Reduced To One Lane
Entrance ramps onto westbound I-635 (LBJ Freeway) from northbound and southbound US 75 (Central Expressway) were reduced to one merging lane this week.
In addition, the entrance ramp to westbound LBJ from Coit Road will be moved temporarily, beginning tonight.

Both changes are expected to be in place for approximately one year. They will allow for ongoing construction of the LBJ Express project to continue.

For more information about the LBJ Express project, visit the website at www.lbjexpress.com.

Transfer Station Public Meeting is Oct. 9
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will hold a public meeting on the North Texas Municipal Water District’s (NTMWD) application for a Municipal Solid Waste Permit Amendment for the Lookout Drive Transfer Station at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9 at the Douglas Otto Middle School Cafeteria located at 504 North Star Rd. in Plano.

The NTMWD has submitted plans to replace and modernize its facility located just east of Plano Road on Lookout Drive. The facility serves as a transfer point where trash is taken, compacted and then placed on trucks to be hauled to a landfill. The proposed facility design will also allow for future growth projected in the area.

Tuesday is Last Day to Register to Vote for Nov. 6 Charter Amendment and General Election
The deadline to register and be eligible to vote in the Nov. 6, 2012, City Charter Amendment and General Election is Tuesday, Oct. 9.

The proposed amendment would change the City Charter to provide for the direct election of the City’s mayor. Click here to view more information.

Registration begins Oct. 8 for 41st Annual Christmas Parade
Get in on the spirit of the holiday season by participating in Richardson’s Annual Christmas Parade—a tradition that will celebrate its 41st year! Individuals, groups, clubs, churches, schools and “kids of all ages” are encouraged to join in on this festivity!

Last year nearly 2,500 participated in this event, and parade organizers are looking forward to another great year! The theme for this year’s parade, which will be held on Coit Road, is “Reindeer Games.” Individuals and groups are encouraged to represent this theme in their costumes, vehicles and floats.

The City of Richardson held its annual National Night Out event Tuesday, Oct. 2 and more than 187 registered neighborhood parties participated and helped to collect more than 6,000 pounds of food for the NETWORK of Community Ministries food bank.

This was the 23rd year of NNO participation by the City of Richardson, facilitated by the Richardson Police Department’s Crime Prevention Unit. The event promotes awareness, safety and neighborhood unity and showcases the vital importance of police-community partnerships and citizen involvement.

Tree the Town Has First Planting of the Fall

This week, the Richardson City Council celebrated the planting of 120 trees as part of the Tree the Town program, this one sponsored by Evergreen at Richardson Senior Living at North Star and Renner roads.

Richardson’s Tree the Town program started as North Texas’ largest tree planting initiative in April 2010. The program’s goal is to plant 50,000 trees in Richardson during the next 10 years on private and public property through the support of sponsorships and individual participation.

Since its inception, Tree the Town has served as the catalyst for the “Tree North Texas” initiative that has a goal of planting 3 million trees by the year 2021. Richardson’s Tree the Town program was put on hold in 2011 due to extreme drought conditions experienced in and around the city. So far more than 7,500 trees have been registered through the program.

October Richardson Today Mailed This Week
The October edition of Richardson Today began arriving in mailboxes this week. The latest edition focuses on fiscal responsibility and features a story on the City of Richardson’s 2012-2013 Budget. Other top stories focus on the official groundbreaking for the Methodist Health System’s new 125-bed acute care hospital being built at the Bush/Renner campus and information about the Nov. 6 City Charter Amendment Election.

Richardson Today is mailed to every residence in the City and is also available at the Heights and Huffhines Recreation Centers, the Senior Center, City Hall and at the Richardson Public Library. A Richardson Today interactive edition is also accessible through the link below. Ask your local mail carrier if you live in the City and do not receive your copy of Richardson Today.

Click the link below to read the latest edition of Richardson Today, as well as archived editions: http://bit.ly/OBMY9N

Friends of the Library Book Sale Runs Through Sunday
The Friends of the Richardson Public Library is holding its fall book sale in the Basement Program Room at the Library. It will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 2-5 p.m. Sunday.

The sale includes tens of thousands of books, CDs, DVDs and more and raises funds to support the Library.

Eisemann Center Presents Comedian Jeff Garlin Oct. 12
The Comedy show “Jeff Garlin – Built for Comfort” will kick off the Eisemann Center Presents 2012-2013 10th Anniversary Season with a show Friday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Bank of America Theatre.

Jeff Garlin’s talent encompasses writing, producing, directing, acting and performing stand-up comedy. He both co-stars and executive produces the HBO series "Curb Your Enthusiasm," starring "Seinfeld" creator Larry David.
Tickets are $30 for reserved seating and can be purchased online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650. Ticket Office hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and one hour before performances. Group discounts are available for 10 or more by calling 972-744-4657.

Richardson Symphony Orchestra Opens 51st Season Tomorrow
The Richardson Symphony Orchestra opens its 51st season at the Eisemann Center Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. in the Hill Performance Hall. The orchestra is led by Music Director and conductor Maestro Clay Couturiaux.

The performance will feature Bulgarian violinist Bella Hristova in a performance of Max Bruch’s showpiece for violin and orchestra, the Scottish Fantasy.

Maestro Clay Couturiaux

Tickets range from $15-$80 and are available online at www.eisemanncenter.com or by calling the Eisemann Center Ticket Office at 972-744-4650.

Richardson Chamber of Commerce Offers Online Survey
The Richardson Chamber of Commerce has commissioned research company ExperiPro to conduct a study about the factors that impact Richardson businesses.

If you do business in Richardson, even if you are not currently a member of the Richardson Chamber, your feedback is very important. The information collected will also be helpful to business leaders in the Richardson community.

DART and Red River Rivalry: A Winning Game Plan
Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s getting you to the Saturday, Oct. 13, annual AT&T Red River Rivalry football game between the University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma, in the Cotton Bowl at Fair Park safely and on time. Details are available at www.DART.org/RedRiverRivalry.
To help accommodate the large crowds, DART is adding light rail, buses and Trinity Railway Express (TRE) trains with special connections planned. Some passengers may board buses to complete their trip.

Customers are encouraged to take advantage of the early transit service, which on some lines begins up to four hours before game time.

Passes are available at ticket vending machines located at all DART and TRE stations, or save time and pre-purchase a $4 DART Local Day Pass for Saturday, Oct. 13.

All proceeds from the Tea benefit literacy programs in Richardson offered through the Richardson Adult Literacy Center and the Richardson Public Library.

Romance and mystery authors from around the country will host tea tables, and their books will be available for sale and signing. New York Times best-selling author Sarah MacLean will be the event’s keynote speaker.

Sarah MacLean

Individual tickets for general seating are $35. Or you may purchase an entire table for nine guests and the author of your choice for $360. This year, smaller table sales are also available for seven guests and the author of your choice for $280.

Visit www.bunsandroses.org for a complete list of participating authors and to purchase tickets. Call 972-744-4376 for more information.

Richardson Animal Shelter Pet of the Week This is Lassie! She is a DMH, female, about 2 years old and is up to date on all her vaccinations. She is a sweet and calm lap cat that has been at the shelter since June. Contact the Animal Shelter (972-744-4480) about Lassie or other animals available for adoption.